Prunus incisa named fpmspl

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of  Prunus incisa  named FPMSPL that is characterized by its weeping habit, its variegated white and yellow-green summer foliage color, its variegated green, red-purple, grey-orange, orange-red and red-purple fall foliage color and its lack of seeds and fruits.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of Prunusincisa, which has been given the varietal name ‘FPMSPL’. Nick Dunndiscovered the new tree in a production field of Prunus incisa ‘SnowShowers’ as a chance branch sport growing in a cultivated area of anursery in Tenbury Wells, Worcestershire, England. This cultivated areaalso contained other seedling and varietal Prunus trees. The new varietydiffered from these other seedlings and varieties of Prunus treesgrowing in this area by its variegated white and yellow-green summerfoliage color and variegated green, red-purple, grey-orange (brown),orange-red and red-purple (pink) fall foliage color.

The parentage of this tree is unknown, but it is definitely a Prunusincisa type tree. Representative varieties within this species include‘February Pink’, ‘Kojo-no-mai’, ‘Mikinori’, ‘Oshidori Princess’,‘Pendula’, ‘Praecox’ and ‘Snow Showers’.

The original tree was found as a single variegated branch sport fromPrunus incisa ‘Snow Showers’ and at that time, grafting wood wascollected and grafted on Prunus avium, then planted in a liner field.Having recognized this tree as unique, the inventor transplanted the newtree to a landscape setting adjacent to the nursery property in TenburyWells, Worcestershire, England in the spring of 2006, where it hasremained since that time. It is now about 5 years old from a graftedliner. Plants of the new variety have been asexually reproduced inTenbury Wells, Worcestershire, England. The characteristics of the newvariety have been found to be strictly transmittable and the varietyreliably reproduces true to form from one generation to another.

The description of this new Prunus incisa variety is based onobservations of plants growing in Tenbury Wells, Worcestershire,England.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

As the original tree of the new variety was observed, the uniqueness ofthis tree became apparent because of its variegated white andyellow-green summer foliage color, and variegated green, red-purple,grey-orange (brown), orange-red and red-purple (pink) fall foliagecolor. These characteristics distinguish the new tree from other Prunusof which we are aware, such as Prunus subhirtella ‘Pendula Rosea’ (notpatented), Prunus incisa ‘Pendula’ (not patented) and Prunus incisa‘Snow Showers’ (not patented).

The new variety was asexually propagated by cleft grafting in 2006 atthe direction of the inventor. The progeny have thus far proven toretain the unique weeping growth habit, variegated white andyellow-green summer foliage color, and variegated green, red-purple,grey-orange (brown), orange-red and red-purple (pink) fall foliage colorof the original tree, with the variegation becoming more pronounced onvigorous extension growth and appearing later in the spring on leavesfrom older branches developing from the center of the leaves. Thispropagation and observation of the resulting progeny have proven thecharacteristics of the new variety to be firmly fixed and to reproducetrue to type. Furthermore, these observations have confirmed that thenew variety represents a new and improved variety of Prunus incisa, Fujiflowering cherry tree.

This unique tree differs from the species in its unique weeping growthhabit compared to a more upright and spreading growth habit exhibited bythe species, variegated white and yellow-green summer foliage colorcompared to glossy green summer foliage color exhibited by the species,variegated green, red-purple, grey-orange (brown), orange-red andred-purple (pink) fall foliage color compared to orange-red fall foliagecolor exhibited by the species, and its lack of seeds and fruitscompared to the red-purple-black, drupe-shaped fruits typical of thespecies. Prunus incisa has no known patented or trademarked varieties.

The closest Prunus incisa variety similar in growth habit only is Prunusincisa ‘Snow Showers’.

This unique tree differs from ‘Snow Showers’ by its white tinged withpink flower color rather than pure white flower color exhibited by ‘SnowShowers’, its variegated white and yellow-green summer foliage colorcompared to glossy green summer foliage color exhibited by ‘SnowShowers’, variegated green, red-purple, grey-orange (brown), orange-redand red-purple (pink) fall foliage color compared to orange-red fallfoliage color exhibited by ‘Snow Showers’, and its lack of seeds andfruits compared to the red-purple-black, drupe-shaped fruits typical ofthose found on ‘Snow Showers’.

The foregoing and other objectives, features, and advantages of theinvention will be more readily understood upon consideration of thefollowing detailed description of the invention taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL DRAWINGS

The accompanying photographic exhibits depict the shape of the tree,color of the foliage, bark, lenticels, glands, flowers and othercharacteristics of the new variety as nearly true as is reasonablypossible to make the same in a color illustration of this character.

Photographic exhibits include the following:

FIG. 1—Photo of the tree without foliage showing unique weeping growthhabit/form

FIG. 2—Photo of the tree with leaves showing foliage density

FIG. 3—Photo of variegated new foliage

FIG. 4—Photo of variegated summer foliage color on mature plant

FIG. 5—Photo of Variegated fall foliage color on mature plant (detail)

FIG. 6—Photo of the trunk bark

FIG. 7—Photo of stem/petiole

FIG. 8—Photo of flowers

FIG. 9—Photo of flowers

FIG. 10—Photo showing glands

FIG. 11—Photo of root system (Prunus avium used for grafting)

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The original ‘FPMSPL’ variety of Fuji cherry tree is currently growingat an observation site in Tenbury Wells, Worcestershire, England. It islocated in an area of the landscape that has a deep, alluvial soil typeand receives approximately 30 inches of rain per year. Tenbury Wells,Worcestershire, England is in a zone comparable to USDA Hardiness Zones6A-8B.

The new tree has not been observed under all growing conditions, andthus, variations may occur.

The following is a detailed description of the new variety of Fujicherry tree with color terminology in accordance with The RoyalHorticultural Society (R.H.S.) Colour chart, copyright 2001, publishedby The Royal Horticultural Society in London. The observations are ofthe original tree growing in the landscape setting in Tenbury Wells,Worcestershire, England and of new progeny which have been recentlyvirus certified and were propagated and are growing at Carlton Plants,LLC at 14301 SE Wallace Road in Dayton, Yamhill County, Oreg., USA.

-   Parentage: Discovered as a chance branch sport growing in a    cultivated area of a nursery in Tenbury Wells, Worcestershire,    England. The parentage of this tree is believed to be by chimera    with no pollen parent and no seed parent. Potential for reversion is    low.-   Tree shape: Weeping canopy, with no central leader (FIGS. 1 and 2).-   Trunk: The trunk is typical of the species with a smooth appearance.    At about age 2 years, the initially discovered tree had a diameter    of about 0.5 inches in diameter measured 6 inches above the ground.-   Bark: Bark (FIG. 6) is smooth and light grey-green in color (RHS Fan    4 — 198D).-   Trunk lenticels: Shape: oblong-elongated. Size: 0.12 inches.    Abundance: 4-5 per inch. Color: grey-orange (RHS Fan 4 — 165D).-   Leaf stomata: Shape: irregular. Size: 0.02 inches. Color: green (RHS    Fan3 — 132C).-   Size and growth rate: Growth rate is slow. The original tree is    currently 2 inches in diameter measured at 6 inches above the    ground, it is 5 feet high, and 4 feet wide, thus providing an    overall height to width ratio of about 1.25:1. Since transplanting    to the observation site as a 0.5 inch caliper transplant, the    original tree had an average growth in caliper of about 0.25 inches    per year and vegetative growth of approximately 36 inches per year    over 5 years.-   Branching habit: Branching is strongly weeping with stiff branch    attachments. Primary branches are smooth and slender emerging from    the trunk at a 60-degree angle becoming a 90-degree angle parallel    to the trunk at 10 inches (FIGS. 1 and 2).-   Branches: Surface texture is smooth. Color is grey (RHS Fan 4 —    198D). Branch lenticels, on a branch having a 0.25 inch caliper, the    average lenticels size is 0.15 inches. Shape is oval-elongated.    Color is yellow-green (RHS Fan 3 — 154D) to grey-yellow (RHS Fan 4 —    160 D).-   Foliage: The tree has leaves that are shaped similar to those of the    species. Shape: opposite, simple, ovate to obovate, sharply    serrulata, 2 to 3 inches long, 1 to 1.5 inches wide, with 0.15 inch    pointed lobes. Sinuses are terminal, 1 to 1.5 inches long and    smooth. Mature summer foliage color of upper surface is variegated    green and yellow-green and is glossy (RHS Fan 3 — 141A green and RHS    Fan 3 — 154 B yellow-green) (FIG. 4); mature summer foliage color of    lower surface is variegated green and yellow-green and is glossy    (RHS Fan 3 — 141A green and RHS Fan 3 — 154 B yellow-green). Mature    fall foliage color of upper surface is variegated green, red-purple,    grey-orange (brown), orange-red and red-purple (pink) and is glossy    (RHS Fan 3 — 141A green, RHS Fan 2 59B red-purple, RHS Fan 4 174A    grey-orange, RHS Fan 1 N34A orange-red and RHS Fan 2 64B red-purple)    (FIG. 5); mature fall foliage color of lower surface is variegated    green, red-purple, grey-orange (brown), orange-red and red-purple    (pink) and is glossy (RHS Fan 3 — 141A green, RHS Fan 2 59B    red-purple, RHS Fan 4 174A grey-orange, RHS Fan 1 N34A orange-red    and RHS Fan 2 64B red-purple) (FIG. 5). Immature spring foliage    color of upper surface is light yellow-green, slightly mottled in    appearance and is glossy (RHS Fan 3 145C yellow-green) (FIG. 3);    immature spring foliage color of lower surface is yellow-green,    slightly mottled in appearance and is glossy (RHS Fan 3 145C). Vein    color is green and is predominant on immature spring foliage (RHS    Fan 3 131C). Pubescence: location, lower surface on new foliage;    color light green (RHS Fan 3 142C). Overall shape — serrulate. Base:    cuneate. Apex: truncate. Surface texture: smooth and glossy.-   Petiole: Average length approximately 1 inch to 1.5 inches.    Diameter: 0.25 inches (FIG. 7). Surface texture is smooth and    glossy. Color: grey-red on immature petioles (RHS Fan 4 178B).-   Glands: Predominant, 1-2 per leaf and orange-red in color (RHS Fan 1    N34A) (FIG. 10).-   Buds: Typical of the species, being rounded. Size: 0.15 inches to    0.25 inches long. Diameter: 0.25 inches. Color: grey-brown (RHS Fan    4 N199C) to grey-brown (RHS Fan 4 200 D), with ciliate scale    margins. Buds are formed prior to leaf emergence and are retained    before flowering for 5-7 days.-   Flowers: Typical of the species are Monoecious with no fragrance.    The staminate catkins are pendent and clustered. The individual    flowers are white with a pink tinge (RHS Fan 4 155D) and are    comprised of a 5-lobed red-purple calyx (RHS fan 2 63A) that    encloses 2 to 3 red-purple (pink) stamens (RHS Fan 2 69B).    Pistillate flowers are: solitary or on 2 to 3 pendulous spikes from    the petioles prior to emergence of the new leaves. Individual    pistillate flowers (FIGS. 8 and 9) consist of: an oval-shaped,    notched (0.2 inches deep) or lobed calyx surrounding the ovary, with    the whole partly enclosed in an involucres. Flowers are 0.5 inches    deep and 0.5 inches wide, which is 10-15% larger than the species or    the closest known variety, Prunus incisa ‘Snow Showers’. Flowers    develop on buds opening April 10^(th)-20^(th) with full bloom April    20^(th)-30^(th), approximately 5 days later than the species or the    closest known variety, Prunus incisa ‘Snow Showers’ with similar    bloom longevity lasting 5-10 days.-   Fruit: Non-existent, which is atypical of the species and of the    closest known variety, Prunus incisa ‘Snow Showers’.-   Root system: The root system is typical of the species being fibrous    with a strong tap root development if on their own root or typical    of Prunus avium (FIG. 11) or whatever similar understock may be used    if grafted.-   Pest and disease resistance: Typical of the species — generally    healthy and trouble free. Tolerance to pH has been observed between    5.0-7.0 millivolts. Tolerance to other various soil conditions is    unknown.-   Winter hardiness: Observed to be typical of the species — USDA Zones    6A-8B.

The terms and expressions which have been employed in the foregoingspecification are used therein as terms of description and not oflimitation, and there is no intention in the use of such terms andexpressions of excluding equivalents of the features shown and describedor portions thereof, it being recognized that the scope of the inventionis defined and limited only by the claims which follow.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Prunus incisa named FPMSPL, as shownand described herein.